Sex Pistols announce plans to re-release 'God Save The Queen'

Punk legends will also bring out limited 7 inch picture disc of 'Anarchy In The UK'

Photo: PA

Sex Pistols have announced plans to re-release their controversial 1977 hit 'God Save The Queen'.

The release, which comes out on May 28, will mark the 35th Anniversary since the track first came out. Originally released on May 27, 1977, during the Queen's Silver Jubilee, 'God Save The Queen' made its mark in history. The BBC, among others, refused to play it and although it technically out-sold the Number One record of the week (Rod Stewart's 'I Don't Want To Talk About It'/'The First Cut Is The Deepest'), it peaked at Number Two in the singles chart.

The band have also announced that a limited edition 7" inch picture disc of their first ever single 'Anarchy In The UK' will also be released on April 21 for Record Store Day.

Responding to rumours that the Queen had personally banned the single from taking the top spot in the UK Singles Chart in favour of Rod Stewart's 'I Don't Want To Talk About It'/'The First Cut Is The Deepest', he said: "That's a lie, isn't it? Those poor people, they're born into a hamster cage and they have no say on anything. In that respect the Queen and I are in agreement!"

The singer also spoke about the outrage caused by the band's manager, Malcolm McLaren, when he hired a boat for them to play on as it sailed down the River Thames and past the Houses of Parliament over the Jubilee weekend. He claimed that, when asked by police "Which one's Johnny Rotten?", he had pointed at Richard Branson so he could avoid a beating.